Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the middle of a Wisconsin winter

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Wow, get growing. That's a great starting time.

Ruffled pansy take a while to grow so start early, after that if left they will self seed as long as your plants aren't F1 hybrids.

I guess I got too impatient with the Cajun man, he reminded me of Wilfred Brimley.

 

[21hens-incharge]

He sure takes some getting used to lol. I must love the south or would not have married into it lol.

Funny thing is southern staple veggies are hard to get dh to eat. OH and don't ask him if he wants any grits.

I think I have a coupon for burpee seeds in my e-mail too. May have to take a look for ruffled pansies and other annuals.

 

[politicalcenter]

He sure takes some getting used to lol. I must love the south or would not have married into it lol.

Funny thing is southern staple veggies are hard to get dh to eat. OH and don't ask him if he wants any grits.

I think I have a coupon for burpee seeds in my e-mail too. May have to take a look for ruffled pansies and other annuals.

He doesn't like Crowder or Purple hull peas? I am from the north and this first time I tried the southern peas I loved them. I also love fried okra. And grits with butter and salt....mmmm...

My wife is from Alabama.


I bought 3 bales of peat moss to mix up some dirt.

I didn't do any more because I watched my daughter win the State championship in culinary management. On to the Nationals !!!!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Funny that you and I both from the north like the southern dishes. Hubby is just weird lol.

I went through my seed hoard. Yes I am now calling it a hoard. I may have a problem.....

If I planted one packet of radish seed every year I have 15 years worth.
Beans and peas are about 6 years worth while corn and squash are about 4 years worth. I do not have any tomato seed since I knew I could not start indoors while the cat could get the seedlings. NOW though I have the basement set up so I need more SEEDS.

I have been looking and looking at greenhouse kits and not liking either what I see or the price. Time to plan a build. I did find my conduit bender so may use galvanized conduit to make the house out of. It sure would save on cost since conduit is not expensive at all.

Congratulations to the daughter on making it to nationals!!!

 

[Miss Biddy]

gizzyntaz,
What do you plan on growing? Are you as snow buried as I am? I still have a foot of snow covering the entire yard.
Deer proofing..... I bet that means you live in a pretty area.

I am planning on growing a lot of things I have never tried to grow before and things I failed miserably at growing.

Here are a couple things I have never tried to grow before....
Okra, winter squash, watermelon, and pickling cucumbers.

Things I have tried and failed at but want to try again.....
Potatoes, onion from seed, and musk melon..

There are of course things that do well for me like tomatoes, radish, spinach, lettuce, strawberries, and of course summer squash.

If you have any tips on growing some of the items I listed PLEASE share them. I need all the help I can get.

Winter squash, watermelon, and pickling cucumbers, muskmelon. (Don't know about okra sorry!)
1. Don't start them too early or late. Start them four weeks before your last frost date
2.. Warm up the soil they're to be planted in with black plastic. Garbage bags will work.
They like the soil at about 70 degrees F.
Remember they are all warm weather lovers. Frost is a killer to them, and chilly weather makes them pout.

3.Pre Germinate them in a damp paper towel stuck in a plastic bag.


4. One thing I do is plant my plants all over. It seems to confuse the bad bugs, like the cucumber beetle

5. If you smoke, wash your hands well, before handling plants too. .

6.Give them plenty of room, and fill the hole with well rotted manure, compost, etc.

7. Harden them off before transplanting, and be very careful to not disturb the roots when planting.


8. Use water filled bottle to keep them warm, if the temp drops.
They are tropical plants, and like it warm and toasty.

9. Water them well, and mulch like crazy!

ETA: A nice video on starting seeds. The only thing I'd do different is pre germinate the seeds. It makes a difference

another video on making paper pots
I use tape to hold the side

 

[politicalcenter]

Funny that you and I both from the north like the southern dishes. Hubby is just weird lol.

I went through my seed hoard. Yes I am now calling it a hoard. I may have a problem.....

If I planted one packet of radish seed every year I have 15 years worth.
Beans and peas are about 6 years worth while corn and squash are about 4 years worth. I do not have any tomato seed since I knew I could not start indoors while the cat could get the seedlings. NOW though I have the basement set up so I need more SEEDS.

I have been looking and looking at greenhouse kits and not liking either what I see or the price. Time to plan a build. I did find my conduit bender so may use galvanized conduit to make the house out of. It sure would save on cost since conduit is not expensive at all.

Congratulations to the daughter on making it to nationals!!!

We always have a few more seeds than we need. Last year i went out and bought seed and my wife bought seed the same day. We still have okra, pole beans, collards, and several other bags. I guess I'll do a germination test and see what i can plant.

I built both of my houses myself. They ain't the greatest but they work. My second one was built with galvanized pipe and pvc fittings.I had the stuff laying around the place. I used regular 4mil, plastic for the cover since it will probably come down for the summer.

And yes we are very proud of the girl. Our family has never had a State champion in anything....ever.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks for the tips Miss Biddy. I will be having some fun figuring it all out. I am glad to have the advice as I am easily discouraged if things do not go well.

politicalcenter,
I think so long as the greenhouse works that is the important thing. That and not breaking the bank.

I think the germination test may be the way I need to go since some of my seed packets are dated 2011. At least those are ones that are supposed to be longer lasting seeds.

 

[lazy gardener]

Thanks for the tips Miss Biddy. I will be having some fun figuring it all out. I am glad to have the advice as I am easily discouraged if things do not go well.

politicalcenter,
I think so long as the greenhouse works that is the important thing. That and not breaking the bank.

I think the germination test may be the way I need to go since some of my seed packets are dated 2011. At least those are ones that are supposed to be longer lasting seeds.

Any seeds I have that need to be started inside... those old ones that are ?able regarding germination, I just pop them into a styrocup full of soil. If they germinate, fine. I can then transplant them into flats. If they don't germinate, I can just recycle the cup and soil. I can't stand "testing" those seeds b/c there are often not many in the packet. If I'm gonna "test" them, I'm gonna grow them. Just plan to have a back up plan if they fail. Some seeds are notorious for short shelf life. Onions, and carrots I think are the worst. I've sprouted tomatoes and peppers that are up to 9 years old with good germination. Usually the bigger seeds do well. (I just have a plan B available just in case the older seeds don't sprout)

 

[politicalcenter]

Any seeds I have that need to be started inside... those old ones that are ?able regarding germination, I just pop them into a styrocup full of soil. If they germinate, fine. I can then transplant them into flats. If they don't germinate, I can just recycle the cup and soil. I can't stand "testing" those seeds b/c there are often not many in the packet. If I'm gonna "test" them, I'm gonna grow them. Just plan to have a back up plan if they fail. Some seeds are notorious for short shelf life. Onions, and carrots I think are the worst. I've sprouted tomatoes and peppers that are up to 9 years old with good germination. Usually the bigger seeds do well. (I just have a plan B available just in case the older seeds don't sprout)

We are fortunate to have feed and seed stores. A lot of seeds we can buy buy the 1/4 ounce on up so it is very easy to buy too many seeds. An example would be turnips. I can get an ounce for a dollar. Sweet corn and other vegetables are more expensive but all of them are a lot less expensive than buying seed packets.

I do my germination tests by putting the seeds between two damp paper towels. I put them in a warm place, keep them damp, and check often. I don't check onion seed or carrot because they are pretty much gone after a year. I also don't test corn.

Most herbs and a lot of flowers I still have to get in seed packets except the wildflower seed I gather myself.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Good to know that the onion seeds do not last. I found that I have two packets that are three years old now so wont bother with them. I will just do the ones that have been reported to have a long shelf life.
I have a packet of yellow pear tomato that are two years old so should go ahead and plant a few indoors.


Thanks guys!